Russia demands guarantees Nato will not expand further on eve of US talks

High-level meetings are due this week between Russia and US aimed at easing rising tensions over Ukraine: Kazakhstan ‘will not be discussed’

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says it is ‘naive to assume progress, let alone rapid progress’ at the coming talks

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A Ukrainian soldier holding a cat walks in a trench on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. With the fate of Ukraine and potentially broader post-Cold War European stability at stake, the US and Russia are due to start critical talks that could shape the future of their bilateral ties and the relationship between the US and its Nato allies. Photo: AP

Published: 7:44pm, 9 Jan 2022

Russia has reiterated its calls for binding security agreements with Nato ahead of talks with the US set for Monday aimed at easing the soaring tensions over Ukraine.

The country needed “guarantees” from the alliance that it will not expand further, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency on Sunday.

Moscow’s expectations regarding Monday’s talks were “realistic,” said Ryabkov. “Based on the signals we’ve heard from Washington and Brussels in recent days, I think it would be naive to assume progress, let alone rapid progress.”

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Photo: Reuters

Ryabkov also stressed his nation was not planning to discuss the unrest in Kazakhstan with the US delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. The former Soviet republic has seen major anti-government protests in recent days and asked a Russian-led military alliance for help.

On Saturday, a senior White House official said the US is ready to discuss with Russia the two countries’ missile systems and military exercises.

The high-ranking talks in Geneva on Monday come amid rumblings in the US and EU over a potential invasion of Ukraine by Russia.